I met Natalia Leanca at the first Web 3.0 / crypto Tomorrow Conference in Belgrade.
She seemed interesting, so I thought it’d be a good idea to have a sit-down for an interview.
Where are you originally from?
“It’s a simple question, but the answer is tricky. I was born in Nikolaev, a mid-size town between Odessa and Kherson in Ukraine, not too far from the Black Sea.
Nikolaev was also called the city of Ships, because there were several shipyards. My parents used to work at one of these shipyards.
And I have nothing but great memories, probably the happiest 13 years of my life.”
How did you end up in Dubai?
“In 2018, I decided to attend the Charity Auction at Malta Blockchain Summit. I got in touch with the organizers and asked them to participate. For the next few years, I kept working with them and I generally had to send them my paintings by mail.
It was a hassle, but it was worth it.
Then, one day, I was finally given the opportunity to fly to Dubai and represent their Art Gallery. I’d already been to Dubai, but only as a tourist. But this time was different and, well, basically I never left.
Dubai is my home now.
It’s a vibrant country. And I like everything about it. The traditions, climate, infrastructure and there’s a multi-cultural element attached to it.
To me, Dubai is like an ocean of art that inspires me.”
What did you think when you first heard of NFTs?
“The first time I heard about NFT I was in Dubai. And I remember thinking, ‘what the hell is it?’ [she laughs, ed].
I thought it was some sort of scam, and there was a lot of hype around it at the time. But then I started thinking about it a bit more seriously, and it dawned on me this could be a great opportunity.
So I looked into it and learned more about it.”
Do you think there’s still a future for NFTs?
“Absolutely. In fact, I think the future of NFTs is brighter than ever.”
What’s the best and worst thing about living in Dubai?
“It’s a multi-cultural place, so you get to meet people from all walks of life and get to know their traditions, culinary tastes and of course values.
It is also a place with many opportunities. Your wildest dreams can come true here. There’s everything you need and more. And there’s a lot of potential for growth and creativity.
And there’s competition, too. And that’s a good thing, when it’s healthy competition.
The worst part is the heat. It’s unbearable in the summer months.”
Is there anything you’ve always wanted to do that you haven’t done?
“My work is my passion, so I’m already lucky in that sense. And I generally treat myself with what I want, when I can. I want to continue following my passion, continue to grow, strengthen my body through yoga and serve others with creativity.”
This post also appears on Publish0x.
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